IT’S taken him 10 years, but he’s finally done it. Samuel Coates is an independent operator in a field he has served for close to two decades — customs brokerage.

The 36-year-old is CEO of Coates Logistics Limited, which opened its doors to the public in 1999 as Coates Distributors Limited. In 2005, the company was restructured and renamed — a move which has seen it investing heavily, Coates said, in new technology and staff training to boost performance.

Among its offerings are import and export services, haulage, risk management services, insurance claims recovery claims services and logistic solutions.

“We at Coates Logistics Limited fully understand the concept of business. We give personalised service to our clients. Being part of the supply chain, we are internal customer to our clients. Our clients depend on us to deliver in order for them to deliver,” Coates told Career & Education.

“In order to cater for our clients locally, regionally and internationally we have formed strategic alliances with Horizon Trade Service Corporation in Miami, Florida and Sea Express Consolidating and Shipping Company in Trinidad and Tobago,” he added. The company is a member of the Customs Broker and Freight Forwarders Association of Jamaica, is a registered exporter with Jamaica Trade and Invest and is rated a tier one customs broker — a designation which allows only customs brokers with a less than five per cent error rating to participate.

The business is an achievement of which Coates — who worked as a customs broker clerk with JA Passenger and Transport Limited before becoming a partner at Williams at Linval Williams Customs Broker — is most proud and for which he has long dreamed.

“I have always have been ambitious. After working with Linval, I realised I needed to go on my own and become a broker,” said the man, who started working at 15, having never had the chance to attend high school.

“I feel good (about my achievement). It has been a rough ride, but it is a wonderful feeling where you have to take something from nowhere to somewhere,” Coates added.

He counts among the challenges he faced sourcing capital and finding ‘quality’ clients. He also had to make several sacrifices to make it all happen.

“I had to work late hours. I didn’t have a social life. I was on a budget; every money I made I had to re-invest…” recalled the married father of two.

And so far, business has been progressing well.

“Well the company has been going well now… We have contracts,” said the man who now holds a diploma in business English from an institution in the UK and a business management certificate from the University of the West Indies.

And his annual earnings in the millions aside, Coates said he especially enjoyed delivering to his clients, as well as members of staff.

“Empowering my staff and exceeding my clients’ expectations (are two of the things I most enjoy about my work),” he said.

“Our team members are constantly upgrading themselves and the company constantly sends them on training related to the industry and the field of business,” Coates, who is a member of the Young Entrepreneurs Association of Jamaica and on the board of the Best Care Foundation, a home for physically and mentally challenge children.